Tel Aviv-Yafo is Israel's coastal commercial and cultural capital, home to about 475,000 people in the city and about 4 million in the wider Gush Dan metro. It combines the Bauhaus-style White City (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), 14 km of Mediterranean beaches, the ancient port of Jaffa, the Carmel Market and a restaurant, cafe and nightlife scene that runs through the night, including on Friday evenings.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Halva and tahini from Carmel Market or Levinsky Market
Spice blends such as za'atar, baharat and sumac
Dead Sea cosmetics
Israeli-designed jewellery and ceramics from Neve Tzedek and Nachalat Binyamin
Vintage brass, copper and Judaica from the Jaffa flea market
Olives, olive oil and date syrup
Hand-painted tiles and art prints from Old Jaffa galleries
Bauhaus-themed posters and architecture books from museum shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel)
Tel Aviv's biggest open-air produce and street-food market
Hours: Sun-Thu about 8:00AM-6:00PM, Fri about 8:00AM-3:00PM, closed Sat
Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair
Twice-weekly open-air handicrafts fair on a pedestrian street
Hours: Tue and Fri about 10:00AM-5:00PM
Shuk HaPishpeshim (Jaffa Flea Market)
Antique, vintage and curio lanes with bars and cafes in Jaffa
Hours: Sun-Thu about 10:00AM-6:00PM, Fri about 10:00AM-2:00PM, closed Sat
Levinsky Market
Spice, nut, dried-fruit and delicatessen street in south Tel Aviv
Hours: Sun-Thu about 8:00AM-6:00PM, Fri about 8:00AM-2:00PM, closed Sat
HaTikva Market
Local-run produce, spices and street food market in the HaTikva quarter
Hours: Sun-Thu about 7:00AM-7:00PM, Fri about 7:00AM-2:00PM, closed Sat
Sarona Market
Indoor gourmet food hall with more than 90 vendors
Hours: Daily from about 10:00AM to 11:00PM; hours vary by stall, with some stalls closed on Shabbat
Tel Aviv Port Farmers' Market
Weekly farmers' market on the port boardwalk with local produce and prepared food
Hours: Fri about 9:00AM-4:00PM; confirm current days on the Tel Aviv Port website
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel)
Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair
Shuk HaPishpeshim (Jaffa Flea Market)
Levinsky Market
Sarona Complex and Sarona Market
Dizengoff Center
Shabazi Street and Neve Tzedek boutiques
Sheinkin Street
Kikar HaMedina (Hamedina Square)
Tel Aviv Port (Namal)
Old Jaffa Shops and Kedumim Square
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Dizengoff Center
Israel's first mall, an eclectic multi-level complex of fashion, electronics, secondhand and street shops
Hours: Sun-Thu about 9:30AM-10:00PM, Fri about 9:30AM-4:00PM
Azrieli Center Mall
Large mall at the base of the Azrieli Towers with a food court and an observatory
Hours: Sun-Thu about 9:30AM-10:00PM, Fri about 9:30AM-3:00PM; confirm current hours at azrielimall.co.il
Sarona Complex
Open-air shopping and dining quarter in restored Templer buildings with a central park
Hours: Sun-Thu about 10:00AM-10:00PM, Fri to mid-afternoon; restaurants run later
Gan HaIr Mall
Mid-size city-centre mall with Israeli fashion, cosmetics, a cinema and the Gan HaIr courtyard
Hours: Sun-Thu about 9:30AM-9:30PM, Fri to about 3:00PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargain at the Jaffa flea market and Nachalat Binyamin craft stalls, not in malls or boutique shops with price tags.
Produce at Carmel Market is priced per kilo; ask the price first, and compare two stalls.
Start about 30-40% below the asking price at antique stalls and settle near 70-80%.
Buying several items from one seller is the best way to get a discount.
Smile, stay friendly and be ready to walk away; shopkeepers will often call you back.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Carmel Market, Levinsky Market, the Jaffa flea market and Nachalat Binyamin are closed on Saturday; Friday closing is early afternoon., Malls close on Friday afternoon and reopen after nightfall on Saturday in many cases; Sarona Market and Tel Aviv Port stay open., Most shops in Tel Aviv open Sunday morning because Sunday is a working day in Israel., Security guards check bags at mall entrances; carry a small bag.